Device for triggering a gas spring

ABSTRACT

A device for triggering a gas spring comprises an actuating device and an actuating element connected to the actuating device and acts on an end-side trigger of the gas spring. The actuating element acts on the trigger and is designed as a lever arrangement which reduces or multiplies the force and/or distance and which comprises an actuating lever connected to the actuating device. The device also comprises one trigger lever, which interacts with the actuating lever and acts on the trigger, and a housing. The housing has a gas spring connection unit. The upper end region of the gas spring can be connected to the trigger, which is guided into the interior of the housing. The gas spring connection unit has a continuous opening with an inner thread. In a clearance, there are devices that clamp and/or form-fittingly fix the upper end region of the gas spring in the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C.§371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2014/000350, filedJul. 11, 2014, and claims the benefit of German Patent Application No.20 2013 006 582.6, filed on Jul. 23, 2013, all of which are incorporatedby reference in their entirety herein. The International Application waspublished in German on Jan. 29, 2015 as International Publication No.WO/2015/010672 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for triggering a gas springcomprising an actuating device, an actuating element, which isoperatively connected to the actuating device and acts on an end-sidetrigger of the gas spring, the actuating element acting directly orindirectly on the trigger and being formed in particular as a leverarrangement, which reduces or increases the transmitted force and/ordisplacement, comprises an actuating lever and is in operativeconnection with the actuating device, and at least one trigger lever,which interacts directly or indirectly with the actuating lever and actson the trigger, and a housing, the housing having, in particular in itslower end wall, a gas spring connecting unit, by way of which the upperend region of the gas spring can be connected to the trigger led throughinto the interior of the housing, and the gas spring connecting unitbeing formed as a through-clearance, in particular with an internalthread.

BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas springs are known from practice in a wide variety of embodiments.Many gas springs comprise an integrated valve system, whereby the gasspring can be fixed or locked infinitely variably in any position. Inthis case, the piston is sealed off at a pressure tube and separates twogas chambers from one another. When the valve is closed, the gas springis arrested and allows locking in the desired position. By actuation ofthe trigger, usually embodied as a trigger tappet, the valve is openedand the gas spring can thus be positioned infinitely variably. Theextending speed and damping can in this case be varied appropriately bychoice of the nozzle in the piston.

Gas springs of the type in question here are used in a wide variety ofways. The use of such gas springs in office chairs is known frompractice. Similarly, car seats or aircraft seats can be adjusted orparts of sunbeds can be moved by gas springs. Office desks can also beadjusted in height by gas springs.

The gas springs known from practice require an actuating element, whichis operatively connected to an actuating device and acts directly on thetrigger provided on the end side of the gas spring. In the case ofoffice chairs, for example, this involves using actuating elements thattake the form of simple levers which generally press directly on thetrigger with an end-side region. Such a configuration of the actuatingelement has the great disadvantage that considerable forces are stillrequired for triggering the gas spring. In addition to this there is thefurther disadvantage that it is only with difficulty that the triggeringcan be performed in stages, so that it is virtually impossible toregulate the speed of the gas spring under considerable triggeringforces.

EP 0 907 842 B1 discloses a device for triggering a gas spring of thetype mentioned at the beginning. Apart from the trigger lever, theactuating element of the known device also comprises two further levers,which are pivotably coupled to the trigger lever.

Furthermore, DE 197 16 720 A1 and EP 1 328 738 B1 disclose furtherdevices for triggering a gas spring in which a lever mechanism islikewise used. In the case of the device known from DE 197 16 720 A1,there are two levers, which interact by way of a contact region. Theoperative connection between the levers is realized either by way of atoothing or by way of frictional surfaces lying against one another. Thedevice according to EP 1 328 738 B1 is formed in such a way that thecontact region and/or the actuating lever of the lever mechanism has afreely rotatable roller or ball for rolling on the actuating regionand/or the contact region.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from the cited prior art, the present invention is based onthe object or addresses the technical problem of configuring anddeveloping a device for triggering a gas spring of the type mentioned atthe beginning that can be used under a wide variety of geometrical spaceconditions of the surrounding components, can be producedcost-effectively, ensures a permanently reliable function, is formed ina space-saving manner and ensures a reliable, compact connection of thegas spring.

The device according to the invention for triggering a gas spring isprovided by the features of independent claim 1.

Advantageous configurations and developments are the subject of theclaims that are directly or indirectly dependent on independent claim 1.

The device according to the invention for triggering a gas spring thatensures a compact implementation with at the same time a permanentlyreliable function is distinguished by the fact that in the region of theclearance there are means for the clamping and/or form-fitting fixing ofthe upper end region of the gas spring that is inserted into theclearance. In the case of this variant of an embodiment, a permanentlyreliable connection of the gas spring is possible without any problemeven under confined space conditions, since there is no need for theknown connection by means of a lock nut.

An alternative variant for connecting the gas spring to the housing isdistinguished by the fact that in the region of the gas springconnecting unit there is transversely to the longitudinal direction ofthe gas spring at least one transverse connecting clearance, into whichthere is screwed a threaded pin for securing the connection of the partof the gas spring that is inserted into the gas spring connecting unit.The transverse connecting clearance may also be present on both sides ofthe gas spring connecting unit, into which a threaded pin isrespectively screwed.

An alternative advantageous configuration of the gas spring connectionis distinguished by the fact that the part of the gas spring that isinserted into the gas spring connecting unit has a slot clearance, intowhich there engages in a form-fitting manner the tip of a threaded pinfor the connection that is screwed in from one side or from both sides.Here it is possible to dispense with screwing in of the gas spring, thatis to say an internal thread of the clearance is not required.

A possible third particularly advantageous configuration that can bestructurally implemented particularly easily is distinguished by thefact that the part of the gas spring that is inserted into the gasspring connecting unit is connected by means of at least one cylindricalpin extending in a clearance of the inserted gas spring part and of thehousing or by way of at least one U-shaped clip arranged in aform-fitting manner in a slot in the inserted part of the gas spring,which can for example be pushed in by way of two bores.

A particularly advantageous configuration that ensures a high degree ofvariability in different geometrical installation situations isdistinguished by the fact that on the housing there is a first housingconnecting unit for connecting a connecting unit of the actuatingdevice, the connectable or connected actuating device being guidedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gas springwithin the housing, and on the housing there is a second housingconnecting unit for connecting a connecting unit of the actuatingdevice, the connectable or connected actuating device being guidedsubstantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the gasspring within the housing.

The fact that the device according to the invention has alternatively inaddition two connecting possibilities for the actuating device indifferent connecting directions means that the device can berespectively adapted and used in the individual case even for a widevariety of required existing geometries of the components surroundingit, without additional restrictions having to be accepted and allowingmounting to be made easy without compromising on the safety requirementsthat are imposed, such as for example permanent functionality, fireprevention and the like.

A particularly preferred configuration is distinguished by the fact thatthe housing has two opposite walls, a lower end wall and in particularan upper end wall, and the first housing connecting unit is on the lowerend wall and is in particular formed by a clearance that passes throughthe lower end wall and in particular has an internal thread, and thesecond housing connecting unit is arranged in the left-hand orright-hand peripheral region of the opposite walls.

This simple configuration provides a particularly reliable connectingpossibility for the actuating device that has a small space requirementand ensures a reliable connection.

According to a preferred configuration, the device is distinguished bythe fact that the second housing connecting unit is formed by anabutment element, which is mounted, in particular releasably mounted, onthe opposite walls and has a through-clearance.

The mounting of the abutment element may be implemented for example byinsertion into one or two opposite slots in the wall of the housing upto a stop. This provides a configuration that can be released withoutany problem, that is to say can be quickly modified in the case of use.It is also possible to connect the abutment element releasably in someother way, for example by a screw connection. The abutment element mayalso be fixedly integrated in the housing.

A particularly preferred configuration is distinguished by the fact thatthe first and/or second housing connecting unit is formed in such a waythat an adjusting screw unit or an insertion sleeve unit of theactuating device can be connected or is connected. The use of anadjusting screw unit or insertion sleeve unit makes unproblematicadjustment of the actuating device with respect to the actuatingdisplacement to be set possible without any problem.

A particularly advantageous development that ensures a permanentlyreliable function is distinguished by the fact that the lever mechanismis arranged completely within the housing.

The fact that all of the levers of the lever mechanism are withinhousing means that there are no disturbing, outwardly protrudingcomponents and the components themselves are protected to the greatestextent from soiling or colliding with surrounding components.

To facilitate the assembly or the connection of the actuating device,which with preference is formed as a Bowden cable, a particularlyadvantageous configuration is distinguished by the fact that on thefirst housing connecting unit there is an outwardly open lateral slit,through which for example the operating cable of a Bowden cable can befed without any problem from the outside to the lever mechanism when theBowden cable is being connected to the lever mechanism, and cansubsequently be connected.

In an advantageous configuration, the housing has on the upper side amounting opening, which during the mounting of the lever mechanismallows access from the outside to this lever mechanism to be possible,in order that it can be appropriately positioned in an easy way.

A first alternative configuration of the actuating element with itslever mechanism is distinguished by the fact that the trigger lever isat one end articulated on the housing pivotably about a fixed pivot axisand at its other end is pivotably connected to a second lever—theconnecting lever—at the end thereof, that the connecting lever ispivotably connected at its other end to a third lever—the actuatinglever—and that the actuating lever is at one end articulated on thehousing pivotably about a fixed pivot axis and at its other end can beoperatively connected or is operatively connected to the actuatingdevice, it being possible for the connecting lever to be alternativelyformed for example as a punched part or as a bent wire part or clip.

A second alternative of the configuration of the actuating element withits lever mechanism is distinguished by the fact that the trigger leveris at one end mounted pivotably about a fixed pivot axis, this triggerlever having at its other end a contact region for interacting with asecond lever—the actuating lever—, the actuating lever being mounted atone end pivotably about a fixed pivot axis and operatively connected atits other end to the actuating device and the actuating lever having acorresponding counter contact region.

The contact region of the trigger lever and/or the counter contactregion of the actuating lever may for example have a freely rotatableroller or ball for the rolling of the opposing contact regions, or viceversa. It is also possible that the contact regions lie directly againstone another, without there being a ball or roller for rolling.

A particularly advantageous configuration that allows a compact,space-saving solution is distinguished by the fact that the triggerlever has a cranked or angled peripheral contour.

In order to be able with one and the same housing to implement a numberof reducing or increasing transmission ratios of the lever mechanism inan easy way according to the desired use, a particularly advantageousconfiguration is distinguished by the fact that the housing has in itswalls a number of pivot bearing clearances for the pivot axes and/or thelevers of the lever arrangement have a number of clearances in such away that lever arrangements with different reducing or increasingtransmissions can be positioned within the housing in an easy way, inthat corresponding pins or bolts are inserted into the clearances aspivot axes.

With preference, the wall of the housing is provided on one or two sidesof the outside in the region of the gas spring connecting unit with across-sectional reinforcement, so that on the one hand a permanentlyreliable load-bearing connection can be ensured and otherwise the wallof the housing can be kept relatively thin, so that there is altogethera reduction in weight and space and the device can be used without anyproblem even under confined space conditions.

The lever mechanisms described represent preferred configurations, whichserve the purpose that the gas spring can be triggered in a controlledand defined manner by means of low triggering forces, while at the sametime a compact construction can be implemented. Alternatively, the levermechanism may also comprise eccentric cam plates or cams or a gear wheelor even a gear mechanism. The actuating device itself, which is formedin a particularly easy way as a Bowden cable, may however also beconfigured in some other way. Thus, for example, electrical servomotorsor stepping motors may be used or the actuation may be controlled byinductive or magnetic forces. Hydraulic or pneumatic operation of theactuating elements is also possible without any problem.

The particularly simple configuration of the actuating device as anoperating cable or a Bowden cable provides easy mounting and is possiblewithout any problem even under complicated space conditions in the areaof use of the device. In this case, the Bowden cable may be articulatedby an actuating lever arranged in the housing, which when pulled pivotsthe actuating lever in the direction of the trigger, it being possiblefor the end region of the cable alternatively to be guided according tothe required embodiment in two directions, that is parallel ortransversely to the gas spring, and securely connected to the housing atthe first or second connecting unit. For easy triggering, the actuatingdevice itself may have a lever, button or the like. This allows simpleconstructions that can be produced cost-effectively and ensure apermanently reliable function.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention are provided by thefeatures that are further presented in the claims and by the exemplaryembodiments specified below. The features of the claims may be combinedwith one another in any desired way as long as they are not clearlymutually exclusive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and advantageous embodiments and developments of the sameare described and explained in more detail below on the basis of theexamples represented in the drawing. The features that can be taken fromthe description and the drawing may be applied according to theinvention individually on their own or multiply in any desiredcombination. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a first exemplaryembodiment of a device for triggering a gas spring comprising a firstlever mechanism, the actuating device for the lever mechanism beingconnected to the housing of the device by way of an insertion sleeve andthe gas spring being connected directly to the housing, with anupper-side connection, the gas spring and the actuating device beingconnected substantially in the parallel direction,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a first exemplaryembodiment of a device for triggering a gas spring comprising a firstlever mechanism, the actuating device for the lever mechanism beingconnected to the housing of the device by way of an adjusting screw andthe gas spring being connected directly to the housing, with anupper-side connection, the gas spring and the actuating device beingconnected substantially in the parallel direction,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a first exemplaryembodiment of a device for triggering a gas spring comprising a firstlever mechanism, the actuating device for the lever mechanism beingconnected to the housing of the device by way of an adjusting screw andthe gas spring being connected directly to the housing, without anupper-side connection and with an upper-side mounting clearance, the gasspring and the actuating device being connected substantially in theparallel direction,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section through the device according toFIG. 2 along in the longitudinal direction of the connected gas spring,which is screwed in and secured by a lock nut,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section through the device according toFIG. 1 along in the longitudinal direction of the connected gas spring,which is screwed in and screwed by two opposite clamping screws,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section through the device according toFIG. 1 along in the longitudinal direction of the connected gas spring,which is not screwed in and is secured by two opposite clamping screws,the tip of which engage in a slot present on the gas spring,

FIG. 7 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a second exemplaryembodiment of a device for triggering a gas spring comprising a secondlever mechanism, the actuating device for the lever mechanism beingconnected to the housing of the device by way of an adjusting screw andthe gas spring being connected directly to the housing, with anupper-side connection, the gas spring and the actuating device beingconnected substantially in the transverse direction in relation to oneanother,

FIG. 8 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a second exemplaryembodiment of a device for triggering a gas spring comprising a secondlever mechanism, the actuating device for the lever mechanism beingconnected to the housing of the device by way of an insertion sleeve andthe gas spring being connected directly to the housing, with anupper-side connection, the gas spring and the actuating device beingconnected substantially in the transverse direction in relation to oneanother,

FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross section through the device according toFIG. 7 along in the longitudinal direction of the connected gas spring,which is screwed in and secured by a lock nut,

FIG. 10 shows a schematic cross section through the device according toFIG. 8 along in the longitudinal direction of the connected gas spring,which is screwed in and screwed by two opposite clamping screws,

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross section through the device according toFIG. 1 along in the longitudinal direction of the connected gas spring,which is not screwed in and is secured by two opposite clamping screws,the tip of which engage in a slot present on the gas spring,

FIG. 12 shows a schematic side view of the device according to FIGS. 1,2, 7 and 8,

FIG. 13 shows a schematic bottom view of the housing according to FIG.12,

FIG. 14 shows a schematic plan view of the housing according to FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 shows a schematic side view from the left of the housing fromFIG. 12,

FIG. 16 shows a schematic side view from the right of the housing fromFIG. 12,

FIG. 17 shows a schematic longitudinal section through the housingaccording to FIG. 17,

FIG. 18 shows a schematic side view of the housing of the deviceaccording to FIG. 3 without an upper Bowden connection,

FIG. 19a shows a schematic side view of an abutment element, which canbe inserted into the slots in the housing according to FIG. 17,

FIG. 19b shows a schematic end view of the abutment element according toFIG. 19a and

FIG. 20 shows a highly schematized representation of a device fortriggering a gas spring comprising actuating devices that can bealternatively connected in two different directions and a direct gasspring connection to the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Represented in FIG. 20 in a highly schematized representation is adevice 100 for triggering a gas spring 1, which is only partiallyrepresented at the upper end in FIG. 20 and is connected to the device100. Shown as a feature essential to the invention is that the gasspring 1 or its upper end region can be connected with the trigger 3directly to the housing 20 of the device 100 and can be fixed by way ofclamping and/or form-fitting means extending through the housing wall,which allows a reduction in the volume of space required, since it ispossible to dispense with a lock nut, and at the same time ensures ahigh degree of functionality.

A further concept is that an actuating device 2 can be connected by wayof a first housing connecting unit 22 in a direction P that issubstantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the gas spring1, or alternatively a connection of the actuating device 2 is possibleby way of a second housing connecting unit 24, which extendssubstantially transversely Q to the longitudinal direction L of the gasspring 1. The actuating device 2 in this case acts on an actuatingelement 4 with a lever mechanism 5, the lever mechanism acting on thetrigger 3 of the gas spring 1.

Various embodiments are described below in a structural configuration.

FIGS. 1 to 11 show first embodiments of a device 100.1, 100.2, 100.3 fortriggering a gas spring 1, which here is only represented as a detail ofthe end, the devices 100.1, 100.2, 100.3 having a merely indicatedactuating device 2, the actuating device 2 being formed in the exemplaryembodiment as a Bowden cable with a cable 16. The actuating device 2acts on an actuating element 4.1 or 4.2, which acts directly on anend-side trigger 3 of the gas spring 1.

In FIG. 1, the actuating element 4.1 is embodied as a lever mechanism5.1, which reduces or increases the transmitted force and/ordisplacement, one of the levers, the so-called trigger lever 6.1,pressing directly on the trigger 3.

The trigger lever 6.1 is at one end articulated on a housing 20pivotably about a fixed pivot axis 7.1 and at its other end is pivotablyconnected to a second lever, the so-called connecting lever 8, at theend thereof. The connecting lever 8 is pivotably connected at its otherend to a third lever, the so-called actuating lever 9.1. The actuatinglever 9.1 is at one end articulated on the housing 20 pivotably about afixed pivot axis 10.1 and at the other end is operatively connected tothe actuating device 2 by way of a pressing nipple 18.

The ratio of the lever portions on the one hand of the trigger lever6.1, between the fixed pivot axis 7.1 and the trigger 3 and also betweenthe trigger 3 and the pivoted connection to the connecting lever 8, andon the other hand of the actuating lever 9.1, between the fixed pivotaxis 10.1 and the free end or the operative connection to the actuatingdevice 2, and also between the pivoted connection to the connectinglever 8 and said free end or operative connection to the actuatingdevice 2, dictates the degree of reducing or increasing transmission ofthe lever mechanism 5.1.

The entire lever mechanism is surrounded by the housing 20, whichconsists of two opposite parallel walls 26, 28, a lower end wall 32 andan upper end wall 34 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 in particular). On the upperside, integrally formed on the upper end wall 34 is a connecting unit30, which is formed as a Bowden connection and serves for connecting thedevice 100.1 to surrounding components.

The device has in the lower end wall 32, in the peripheral region on theleft in FIG. 1, a first housing connecting unit 22, which is formed as athrough-clearance 36 with an internal thread 38.

Adjoining the through-clearance 36 there is a through-slit 54, which isopen to the left in FIG. 1, on the lower end wall 32. The first housingconnecting unit 22 serves the purpose of connecting the incomingactuating device 2 to the housing 20. This is structurally implementedin the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 by aninsertion sleeve unit 52. The insertion sleeve unit 52 is arranged inthe clearance 36 of the first housing connecting unit 22 and the cable16 of the actuating device 2 is led through into the interior up to theconnection of the pressing nipple 18 to the one end region of theactuating lever 9. The slit 36 serves the purpose that the actuatingdevice 2, in particular the cable 16, can be laterally inserted in aneasy way during mounting.

The device 100.1 represented in FIG. 2 differs from the device 100.1according to FIG. 1 in that, instead of the insertion sleeve unit 52, inthe first housing connecting unit 22 an adjusting screw unit 50 isscrewed in. With this adjusting screw unit 50, the effective length ofthe cable 16 of the actuating device 2 can be adjusted. The samecomponents bear the same designations and are not explained again.

The device 100.1 of FIG. 1 and of FIG. 2 is also distinguished by thefact that the upper end region of the gas spring 1, in which the trigger3 is guided longitudinally displaceably, is connected directly to thehousing 20. For this purpose, the device 100.1 has in the lower end wall32 a gas spring connecting unit 70, which in the exemplary embodiment isformed as a through-clearance with an internal thread 72. The end regionof the gas spring 1 has an external thread 72, which can be screwed intothe internal thread 71 of the gas spring connecting unit 70. Thelongitudinal direction of the gas spring is denoted in FIGS. 1 and 2 byL. In the case of the embodiment of the device 100.1 according to FIG.1, the screwed-in end region of the gas spring 1 is secured from bothouter sides by a threaded pin screwed into a second clearancetransversely to the longitudinal direction, that is to sayperpendicularly to the plane of the page of FIG. 1.

In the region of the gas spring connecting unit 70, the walls 26, 28 ofthe housing 20 have a cross-sectional reinforcement 79. The threaded pinis respectively screwed into a transverse connecting clearance 75passing through the wall 26 or 28. As a result, the gas spring 1 issecurely connected to the housing 20.

The connecting direction of the actuating device 2 in the case of theexemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is indicated in thefigures by the double-headed arrow P and extends parallel to thelongitudinal direction L of the gas spring 1.

The embodiment of the device 100.1 according to FIG. 2 differs from theembodiment according to FIG. 1 in that the embodiment according to FIG.2 dispenses with the laterally screwed-in threaded pins and thepositional securement of the gas spring 1 on the housing is broughtabout by a lock nut 74 screwed onto the external thread 72.

The connection of the gas spring 1 in the case of the embodimentaccording to FIG. 1 is represented in more detail in cross section inFIG. 5. The connection of the gas spring according to the embodiment inFIG. 2 is represented in more detail in cross section in FIG. 4.

Finally, a third variant of an embodiment of the connection of the gasspring 1 to the housing is also possible, represented in cross sectionin FIG. 6. It resembles the embodiment according to FIG. 5, but nointernal thread of the transverse connecting clearance 75 is requiredhere, since the end region of the gas spring 1 has a peacock-shapedslot, into which the threaded pins screwed into the transverse clearance75 engage with their tip in a form-fitting manner in the screwed-instate, so that the reliable connection of the gas spring 1 to thehousing 20 is ensured.

The device 100.3 represented in FIG. 3 for triggering a gas spring 1resembles the devices 100 presented above in respect of the actuatingelement 4.1 with the lever mechanism 5.1, but is of a more compact formand is without an upper connecting unit 30. Formed in the upper end wall34 is a mounting opening 36, through which access to the lever mechanism5.1 or actuating lever 9.1 is possible to facilitate mounting. As in thecase of the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the connection of theactuating device 2 to the housing 20 takes place by way of the firsthousing connecting unit 22 with the screwed-in adjusting screw unit 50.The same components bear the same designations and are not explainedagain. The connection of the upper end region of the gas spring 1 to thehousing 20 takes place in accordance with the representation in FIG. 6with threaded pins 76, the tip 78 of which engage in a slot 77 in theupper end region of the gas spring 1.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternative device 100.2 for triggering a gasspring 1 is respectively represented, having fundamentally the samestructure in respect of the housing 20 as the device 100.1 describedabove, but here the actuating device 2 being connected in the right-handupper peripheral region of the housing by way of a second housingconnecting unit 24, so that the cable 16 of the actuating device 2connected as a Bowden cable extends substantially transversely Q to thelongitudinal direction L of the gas spring 1.

The actuating element 4.2 with its lever mechanism 5.2, accommodatedcompletely in the interior of the housing 20, differs from the levermechanism 5.1 in that there is a trigger lever 6.2, which is fixedlypivotable about a pivot axis 7.2, acts on the trigger 3 and has at itsother end region a rotatable roller 62, which forms a contact area 12,which lies against a corresponding contact area 64 (counter contact area14) of an actuating lever 9.2, the actuating lever 9.2 at its one endbeing mounted pivotably about a fixed pivot axis 10.2 and at its otherend having the cable 16 of the actuating device anchored in front of thepressing nipple 18. When the actuating lever 9.2 is actuated, itscontact area 64 acts on the roller 62 of the trigger lever 6.2, thelatter rolling on the contact area 64 and corresponding thereto exertingthe trigger pressure on the trigger 3 of the gas spring 1. The triggerlever 6.2 is in this case of a cranked form, so that a compact structurecan be achieved.

The second housing connecting unit 24 has an abutment element 40, whichin the right-hand upper peripheral region of the housing 20 is mountedreleasably in a form-fitting manner on the opposite walls 26, 28. Theabutment element 40 has a through-clearance 42 with an internal thread43 and is represented in more detail in FIGS. 19a and b.

In the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 8, an insertion sleeveunit 52 is inserted into the clearance 42 and in the embodimentaccording to FIG. 7 an adjusting screw unit 50 is inserted or screwedinto the clearance 42, for the guiding connection of the actuatingdevice.

In the exemplary embodiment, the abutment element 40 has on both sideson the upper side a projection unit 45, which is inserted into acorresponding inwardly open slot 44 in the housing 20 on the inner wallof the walls 26, 28. Toward the outside, the abutment element 40 has anabutment plate 46, which has the through-clearance 42 and can be broughtto bear against the inner side of the walls 26, 28 by way ofcorresponding clearances 48, so that with the abutment element 40inserted, the projection unit 45 is mounted in the slot 44 and theabutment plate 46 is mounted in the clearances 48, and consequently onthe outside finishes flush with the housing 20.

The housing itself is represented in more detail in FIGS. 12 to 18.

In FIGS. 12 and 17, the different geometrical arrangements of the fixedpivot axes 7.1, 7.2, 10.1, 10.2 are represented on the housing 20, thealternative arrangement of the pivot axes being indicated by a dashedline. Depending on at which pivot axes 7, the lever elements of thelever mechanism 5 are connected, different reducing and increasingtransmission ratios of the lever mechanism can be implemented.

1. A device for triggering a gas spring comprising: an actuating device;an actuating element, which is operatively connected to the actuatingdevice and acts on an end-side trigger of the gas spring, said actuatingelement acting directly or indirectly on the trigger and being formed asa lever arrangement, which reduces or increases the transmitted forceand/or displacement, comprises an actuating lever in operativeconnection with the actuating device, and at least one trigger lever,which interacts directly or indirectly with the actuating lever and actson the trigger; and a housing, wherein the housing has in its lower endwall, a gas spring connecting unit, by which an upper end region of thegas spring can be connected to the trigger led through into the interiorof the housing, the gas spring connecting unit is formed as athrough-clearance with an internal thread, in a region of the clearancethere are devices that clamp and/or form-fittingly fix the upper endregion of the gas spring in the housing that is inserted into theclearance the housing has a first housing connecting unit for connectinga connecting unit of the actuating device, the connectable or connectedactuating device being guided substantially parallel to the longitudinaldirection of the gas spring within the housing and, the housing has asecond housing connecting unit for connecting a connecting unit of theactuating device, the connectable or connected actuating device beingguided substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of thegas spring within the housing.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein in the region of the gas spring connecting unit there istransversely to the longitudinal direction of the gas spring in thehousing at least one transverse connecting clearance, into which athreaded pin is screwed for securing the connection of a part of the gasspring that is inserted into the gas spring connecting unit.
 3. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of the gas spring that isinserted into the gas spring connecting unit has a slot clearance, intowhich there engages in a form-fitting manner the tip of a threaded pinfor the connection that is screwed into at least one transverseclearance.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of thegas spring that is inserted into the gas spring connecting unit isconnected by at least one cylindrical pin extending in a clearance ofthe inserted gas spring part and of the housing, or by at least oneU-shaped clip arranged in a form-fittingly manner in a slot in theinserted part of the gas spring.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein a wall of the housing has a cross-sectional reinforcement on oneor two sides of the outside in the region of the gas spring connectingunit.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thehousing has two opposite walls including a lower end wall and an upperend wall, the first housing connecting unit for the actuating device ison the lower end wall and is formed by a clearance that passes throughthe lower end wall and has an internal thread, and the second housingconnecting unit is arranged in the left-hand or right-hand peripheralregion of the opposite walls.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the trigger lever of the actuating element is articulated on thehousing pivotably about a fixed pivot axis at one end and is pivotablyconnected to a connecting lever at another end the connecting lever ispivotably connected to a actuating lever at the another end saidactuating lever being articulated on the housing pivotably about a fixedpivot axis at one end and being able to be operatively connected to theactuating device at another end.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the trigger lever of the actuating element is mounted pivotablyabout a fixed pivot axis at one end and has a contact region forinteracting with an actuating lever at another end, the actuating leverbeing mounted pivotably about a fixed pivot axis at one end andoperatively connected to the actuating device and the actuating leverhaving a corresponding counter contact region at another end.
 10. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lever mechanism is arrangedcompletely within the housing.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the housing has in its walls a number of pivot bearingclearances for the pivot axes and/or the levers of the leverarrangement, which have a number of clearances in such a manner thatlever arrangements with different reducing or increasing transmissionscan be positioned in a rotationally mounted manner within the housing inan easy way.